Foldable display device and method of fabricating the same

Abstract

A foldable display device can include a display panel including a folding area and a non-folding area; a rigid member disposed under the display panel, the rigid member including an opening pattern corresponding to the folding area; a support member disposed under the rigid member; and an adhesive member disposed between the support member and the rigid member, in which the adhesive member includes a non-adhesive portion disposed between the support member and the rigid member, the non-adhesive portion of the adhesive member overlaps with the opening pattern in the rigid member, and the non-adhesive portion of the adhesive member overlaps with the folding area of the display panel.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A foldable display device comprising:
 a display panel including a folding area and a non-folding area; 
 a rigid member disposed under the display panel, the rigid member including an opening pattern corresponding to the folding area; 
 a support member disposed under the rigid member; and 
 an adhesive member disposed between the support member and the rigid member, 
 wherein the adhesive member includes a non-adhesive portion disposed between the support member and the rigid member, and 
 wherein the non-adhesive portion of the adhesive member overlaps with the opening pattern in the rigid member, and the non-adhesive portion of the adhesive member overlaps with the folding area of the display panel. 
 
     
     
       2. The foldable display device of  claim 1 , wherein the non-adhesive portion is configured to support the opening pattern and suppress a part of the folding area of the display panel from sagging. 
     
     
       3. The foldable display device of  claim 1 , wherein the non-adhesive portion is separated from a part of the support member corresponding to the folding area when the display panel is folded. 
     
     
       4. The foldable display device of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a flexibility-improving adhesive layer disposed between the display panel and the rigid member. 
 
     
     
       5. The foldable display device of  claim 4 , wherein the flexibility-improving adhesive layer includes extended portions, and
 wherein the extended portions of the flexibility-improving adhesive layer are disposed in open regions of the opening pattern in the rigid member. 
 
     
     
       6. The foldable display device of  claim 5 , wherein the extended portions of the flexibility-improving adhesive layer contact the non-adhesive portion of the adhesive member. 
     
     
       7. The foldable display device of  claim 6 , wherein the contact between the non-adhesive portion and the extended portions is configured to suppress part of the display panel from sagging when the display panel is folded or suppress the non-adhesive portion from fluctuating. 
     
     
       8. The foldable display device of  claim 5 , wherein the extended portions of the flexibility-improving adhesive layer extend through rigid member and through the adhesive member to contact an upper surface of the support member. 
     
     
       9. The foldable display device of  claim 1 , wherein the adhesive member comprises a first sub-layer and a second sub-layer disposed under the first sub-layer, and
 wherein a part of the second sub-layer corresponding to the folding area forms the non-adhesive portion of the adhesive member. 
 
     
     
       10. The foldable display device of  claim 1 , wherein the opening pattern in the rigid member includes open regions and blocking regions arranged in an alternating matter, and
 wherein the blocking regions in the opening pattern of the rigid member extend through the adhesive member to contact an upper surface of the support member. 
 
     
     
       11. A foldable display device comprising:
 a flexible substrate including a foldable region and a non-foldable region; 
 a rigid member disposed under the flexible substrate, the rigid member including an opening pattern corresponding to the folding area; and 
 an adhesive member including:
 a first adhesive layer configured to be attached to a rear surface of the flexible substrate, and 
 a second adhesive layer disposed between the rigid member and a support member, the second adhesive layer being configured to be attached to the rigid member and the support frame, 
 
 wherein the first adhesive layer is disposed between the flexible substrate and the rigid member. 
 
     
     
       12. The foldable display device of  claim 11 , wherein the second adhesive layer of the adhesive member includes:
 a first portion corresponding to the foldable region, the first portion having a non-adhesive property, and 
 a second portion corresponding to the non-foldable region, the second portion having an adhesive property. 
 
     
     
       13. The foldable display device of  claim 12 , wherein the first portion of the second adhesive layer having the non-adhesive property has been subjected to UV treatment. 
     
     
       14. The foldable display device of  claim 13 , wherein the adhesive property of the second portion is similar to an adhesive property the first adhesive layer, and
 wherein the second portion of the second adhesive layer having the adhesive property is attached to the support frame.